Posted - 07/25/2012 : 8:42:58 PM Yup, I've reviewed a novelty yarn. Remember back in June, oh so long ago, when I said that TNNA was ripe with novelty yarns? Well this is what I mean. It's not your traditional squeaky synthetic yarn -- it's mostly wool and silk with just enough nylon for two rows of binder thread.

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 08:01:15 AM I find I agree with churchlady - there is a place for every type of yarn. I spin, mostly wool, but some alpace, angora, mohair and silk included here and there, so do love the natural fibers. But when you add something quirky into a felted item, well, you never know what you will get. Usually something fun and/or unusual.

And, some people will not or cannot wear natural fibers next to the skin, so scarves and such in acrylics work. As for the yarn shop that sells, but hates, novelty yarns, I would be willing to bet they don't hate the income from such products.

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 07:17:47 AM I don't care, I love novelty yarns! There's nothing better than eyelash or glittery yarn for a little girl's poncho or jumper, if she likes dressing up, that is. Felting experiments including some synthetic novelty yarn, like a garnish on a felted slipper, is fun, and I love all kinds of textured and boucle natural yarns, and one reason is the contrasting trim I love on all kinds of clothing and accessories. I do like Homespun, too, I'm afraid, despite its squeakiness, for its cheap and quick work-up into prayer shawls that no one has to worry about washing or drying.

It doesn't seem that this one would make a scarf within my gift budget, but the flowers, hair accessories, and hat and mitten cuff ideas are really appealling.

Live, Laugh, Love, Learn

chris

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 07:17:08 AM Clara, did you goof somewhere with the stats on the yarn? If not, the answer for me is *absolutely not*!!! $30 for 33 yards? Even as an occasional add in, it's way too expensive. Why can't we just concentrate on well dyed, well spun, well produced yarns and forget the frou-frou silliness?

Thank goodness I'm a member of the SABLE club! I can shop my stash till the day I die and still not have to use novelty yarns.

Keep on knittin', mama, knittin' those blues away!

gma

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 06:18:43 AM I have made a slew of these "novelty" scarves as gifts -- people are some impressed. The 30-33 yard range makes one scarf; some of them tend to grow/stretch.

I find that crocheting them goes much much faster and produces a slight swirl to the finished product; crochet about 5 -7 stitches; turn. The making up goes so much faster -- about 45 minutes/scarf.

Never made one for me, they have all been presents.

But at one of my LYS, they sell, but secretly hate, the stuff. But people come asking for it. At least it is not fun fur!

peggymchoe

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 05:28:06 AM My answer to 'shall we?' is something between 'no' and 'hell no' but as usual the review was interesting, even amusing. It sounds as though to knit the yarn you were making exaggerated knitting motions the way a mime might. It's an improvement over the synthetic stuff but superbulky yarn tends to make my hands and arms hurt.

Jane

Posted - 07/26/2012 : 03:38:44 AM It's the "squeaky synthetic" part of novelty yarn that's always made me cringe, so I'm glad to read that yarn companies are moving away from that. The world could do with a little less fun fur and Homespun, and a lot more wool and silk! I like Minh's suggestions for how to use TDF, too.